Former monk speaking tonight in Birmingham advocates creating your own religion, but praises new pope

Bestselling author Thomas Moore speaks in Birmingham on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, 2014. (Photo by Greg Garrison/ggarrison@al.com)

A former monk who promotes the idea of individuals creating their own religion, Thomas Moore has been impressed by the impact over the past year of Pope Francis.

"The whole attitude to Catholicism has changed because the pope makes his own breakfast," said Moore, one of America's bestselling spiritual authors.

"He has done wonderful things already just in his style. I do think style is important. I don't know that it will translate to any changes in the law of the church."

Moore is in Alabama for the first time as the featured speaker of the SPAFER lectures tonight and Saturday at First United Methodist Church of Birmingham.

Moore will be discussing his most recent book, “A Religion of One’s Own: A Guide to Creating a Personal Spirituality in a Secular World." That book discusses the contemplative lifestyle he lived as a monk for 12 years, but embraces a broader spiritual search using art and music.

Moore will lecture at First United Methodist Church of Birmingham, 518 19th St. North, tonight at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Southern Progressive Alliance for Exploring Religion and the Friends of Jung-South are co-sponsoring the lectures. Tickets are available at the door.

Moore became a monk when he was 13 years old. He later left the monastery, and the church, but still follows it closely.

"Nuns are doing wonderful work," he said. "They're so open-minded. They live in apartments, do social work, offer a spiritual home. I think they're fantastic. Rome has wanted to chastise them for what they're doing."

He has been impressed with Pope Francis setting a tone of humility and creating an emphasis on caring for the poor.

Thomas Moore joined a monastery at age 13. (Photo by Greg Garrison/ggarrison@al.com)

"I would hope that he would translate that excellent style and bring some changes," Moore said. "He's got so much goodwill in the world. That's worth a lot."

Other popes have hurt the church by a lack of simplicity, Moore said. "All this pomp and circumstance has hurt the papacy," Moore said. "At the personal level, I still consider myself Catholic. You can't get rid of it."